curators welcome

Aaniin, hello, and welcome,

My name is Olivia; Anishinaabe-Kwe, from Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, the daughter of MaryAnne, Granddaughter of Rita, Great Granddaughter of Aurore, and the mother of Daisy. My heritage is mixed Anishinaabe, French-Canadian, Finnish, and Welsh. I currently live on Algonquin-Anishnaabe territory, and am grateful for the opportunity to continue my work as Artistic Director of O.Dela Arts, and our Matriarchs Uprising Festival, both based on the unceeded Coast Salish Territories of the Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-Watauth First Nations in Vancouver, BC, Canada.

As a curator of the platform that supports Indigenous women exploring their choreographic expression through Contemporary Indigenous dance and storytelling, I am continuously growing in my understanding of what it means to hold space for meaningful connection. Our festival seeks to amplify the stories shared by these creators whose work reaches into the past, to better understand the present and tell new narratives of the future. This year’s theme of Indigenous Futurism is shared through the portals opened by the artists from Australia, Canada, and Aotearoa with a selection of dance and film that consider what it means to reclaim our Indigenous heritage and be a good ancestor. As artists, we find ourselves asking what legacy do I leave behind and how might there be an opening for old teachings to manifest once again?

In the series of works offered in person and online through this 5^th year of Matriarchs Uprising events, I'm excited by the possibilities presented by the artists whose visions are connected to their stories of transformation. Decoding potential realities through the intersections of movement, storytelling, digital film-making, electronic music and media arts, each artist brings their unique cultural heritage forward. I hope you will join us on this journey through the stars.

Miigwetch, thank you,

Olivia C. Davies